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INTENTIONALLY
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The Purpose of
This Preliminary Damage
Assessment Field Guide

This field guide has been designed to

serve as a quick reference tool to be
utilized by local officials and others,
conducting local damage assessment
for homes and businesses.

Inside you will find listed the 4 Degrees

of Damage; the State’s criteria for
seeking an Individual Assistance
Declaration and tips—things to do,
things to remember. In addition
illustrations have been provided and
offer examples of the different degrees
of damage for both wind and flood.
Why Do Damage Assessment?

Conducting a local damage assessment

enables local officials to:
• determine the severity and
magnitude of the event
• quantify homes and businesses
impacted by the disaster
• determine whether local resources
will be sufficient to effectively
respond and recover from the event.
Local Damage Assessment
Must Be Rapid, Detailed
and Accurate.

• It should be completed and

submitted to the State within 36
hours of the event.
• The data collected will then
be analyzed to determine if
supplemental assistance will be
needed from the State and/or
Federal agencies.
• If necessary, the State will request
a joint preliminary damage
assessment with the Federal
Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and/or the Small Business
Administration (SBA).
• Delay in completing the assessment
may delay supplemental disaster
assistance to those most in need.
There are 4 degrees
of damage:

• Destroyed

• Major

• Minor

• Affected
State’s criteria for requesting
Individual Assistance from FEMA or
SBA, or to seek to be added on to an
existing FEMA IA declaration:

There must be a minimum of twenty-

five (25) homes and /or businesses
with 40% uninsured damages.

Note: Generally, structures with

either “Destroyed” or “Major” degree
of damage will meet “40% uninsured
damages” criteria.
DO’s

Conduct visual inspection to verify

damages.

Be sensitive when discussing damages

with property owner.

Determine extent of insurance coverage

(i.e. homeowner’s policy vs. flood
insurance).

Include impact to businesses in your

survey.

Current assessment reports should be

as accurate as possible. Exaggerating
the amount of damage will be
detrimental during a joint PDA.

Provide detailed assessment to the Ohio

EMA within 36 hours of the event.
REMEMBER

Focus on degrees of damage and

habitability. Do not become
preoccupied with property value.

Look for waterline or debris line to

determine depth of water.

Only report disaster-related damages.

Deferred maintenance and/or
pre-existing damage should not be
included in your assessment.

Based on criteria, make a judgment call.

WIND DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

XX
X

XXX

Examples:
• Some shingle damage
• Few broken windows
• Cosmetic damage to siding
• Repairable

AFFECTED
WIND DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

Examples:
• One (1) wall damaged
• Section of roof missing or
damaged
• Repairable

MINOR
WIND DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

Examples:
• Substantial structural
damage to walls, roof, etc.
• Repairable

MAJOR
WIND DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

Examples:
• Total Loss
• Structure is compromised
• Not repairable

DESTROYED
WIND DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME

XX X

XX

Examples:
• Minor dents to roof or siding

AFFECTED
WIND DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME

Examples:
• Utility connections broken
• Slight movement on piers/
foundation

MINOR
WIND DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME

Examples:
• Wall and roof damage
• Shifted on piers/foundation

MAJOR
WIND DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME

Examples:
• Total Loss
• Bent Frame
• Buckled walls, roof

DESTROYED
FLOOD DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

Examples:
• Without basement: less than
12 inches on 1st floor.
• With basement: less than
12 inches.
• No structure damage

AFFECTED
FLOOD DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

Examples:
• Without basement: 1-2 feet
of water on 1st floor.
• With basement: 1-8 feet

MINOR
FLOOD DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

Examples:
• Without basement: 2-5 feet
of water on 1st floor.
• With basement: over 8 feet
• Collapsed basement wall(s)

MAJOR
FLOOD DAMAGE: SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING

Examples:
• Over 5 feet of water on
1st floor
• Basement full and over
2 feet of water on 1st floor.

DESTROYED
FLOOD DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME

Examples:
• Water standing under or
around mobile home, but not
touching the bottom board.
• Indication of water being
around a mobile home, but
not touching the bottom
board following a flash flood.

AFFECTED
FLOOD DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME

Examples:
• Utilities flooded
• Piers/foundation shifted
• Water touched or soaked
at the bottom board, but did
not enter the primary living
area.

MINOR
FLOOD DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME

Examples:
• Water soaked bottom board
and the primary living area.
• Piers/foundation washed
out or away.

MAJOR
FLOOD DAMAGE: MOBILE HOME

Examples:
• Washed off piers/foundation
• Frame bent or twisted.
• Mobile home has turned
over on its side/top.
• 4 feet + water above
floor level.

DESTROYED
TALLY WORKSHEET
DESTROYED:
SF ________________________________________
MH ________________________________________
BUS _______________________________________
TOTAL: ______________ INS: _________________
MAJOR:
SF ________________________________________
MH ________________________________________
BUS _______________________________________
TOTAL: ______________ INS: _________________
MINOR:
SF ________________________________________
MH ________________________________________
BUS _______________________________________
TOTAL: ______________ INS: _________________
AFFECTED:
SF ________________________________________
MH ________________________________________
BUS _______________________________________
TOTAL: ______________ INS: _________________

SF-Single family BUS-Business

MH-Mobile Home INS-insurance
NOTES
Ohio Emergency Management Agency
2855 West Dublin-Granville Road
Columbus, OH 43235
www.ema.ohio.gov
EMA 0009 1/06